Handle
with Care
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Cover photo: Luis Enrique Ascui
T
he Asian Development Bank (ADB) works Nepal is undergoing a challenging post-
with a number of developing member conflict transition. A conflict-sensitive
countries facing fragile or conflict- approach has been the key to ensuring
affected situations. Fragile and conflict- effective and safe project implementation
affected situations are circumstances that in the country. ADB continues strong
complicate economic development, and might coordination with development partners,
include domestic or international conflict, ethnic including the Department for International
tensions, vulnerability to natural disasters, or a Development, United Kingdom (DFID), the
confluence of these factors. Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA), and the World Bank.
Extra care is required in handling fragile
situations. Developing the tools and expertise Most of ADB’s current fragile situations
needed to deliver this care is an approach that are located in the Pacific, where ADB’s
is relatively young at ADB. However, ADB has harmonization with major development
provided timely assistance to many fragile partners—Australian Agency for International
situations by focusing on affected countries’ Development (AusAID), New Zealand Aid
most urgent needs, by working with other Programme (NZAID), and the World Bank—has
development partners, and by increasing strengthened and its presence has increased.
ADB’s presence in those countries. ADB’s ADB’s understanding of the political economy
engagement ranges from fragile to conflict- has also improved, leading to more effective
affected situations, including subnational pilot approaches to capacity development.
situations of fragility, sensitive post-conflict Thanks to these approaches and with
transitions and peace- building situations. effective community-driven interventions,
ADB has supported strong advances in public
Effective and coordinated development aid sector reform and public services, including
from ADB and other development partners can outsourcing and regional provision in these
Introduction
help countries graduate from fragile status, and fragile countries.
many of ADB’s developing member countries
have done just that. For countries still challenged In a subnational situation of fragility in
by fragile situations, ADB prioritizes assistance Sri Lanka, conflict risk assessments are
that strengthens the capacity of the state to undertaken in all ADB projects in the conflict-
perform its core functions, including delivery affected areas. This methodology also helped 1
of basic services. ADB also supports innovative, maintain project implementation during
community-driven development operations, and the conflict. More, ADB coordinates closely
partnerships with nongoverment organizations with development partners on strategies for
(NGOs) to accelerate the delivery of important assessing and addressing the humanitarian
services to populations at risk. and development needs of Sri Lanka, in line
with the government’s national and provincial
In Afghanistan, impacted by years of conflict, development plans and priorities.
humanitarian aid relies on transport infrastructure
that the government does not yet have the ADB seeks innovative means to strengthen
capacity to build. Thanks to an ADB loan, part the effectiveness of its engagement in fragile
of the ADB-led Central Asia Regional Economic and conflict affected situations, by sustaining
Cooperation (CAREC) program, the government its commitments for longer periods; by aligning
has constructed a railway line between Mazar- development assistance with other funding
e-Sharif and Hairatan, on the Uzbekistan border. agencies at strategic and project levels;
Not only may this rail line make humanitarian aid and by pursuing deeper, more flexible,
easier, but it will also allow for the kind of travel and longer engagement in capacity and
and trade required for real economic growth. institutional development.
Kiran Pandey
The Context
Delivering development assistance amid the conflict in Afghanistan is an enormous
challenge, yet a crucial component of the peace-building process. Despite its
strategic location, Afghanistan is landlocked with poor transport communications
which significantly constrain economic growth in this very poor country. Under
a multilateral regional economic cooperation initiative, ADB has financed the
construction of a railway linking the city of Mazar-e-Sharif to the rail head at the
Uzbekistan border, expanding an important trade route for minerals, agricultural
products, and Afghanistan’s growing manufacturing production.
Government of Uzbekistan
Regional Integration
Railway to
3
Hairatan, Afghanistan
F
or centuries, Afghanistan’s strategic location
has been a liability, inviting unwanted
attention from countries near and far. But
after many years of conflict, the government
has teamed up with ADB to build a railway that
would not only make the most of the country’s
position as part of a regional corridor, but would
also increase opportunities and prosperity for the
people of Afghanistan.
and commerce. It is here, across the river from cope with the high volume of humanitarian
neighboring Uzbekistan, that the building blocks relief and trade entering the country, let alone
of a 75-kilometer single-line railway are being the growing exports that are destined for
laid—thanks to a $165 million ADB grant. markets around the region and the world.
When completed in late 2010, the new rail
Rails to Roads and Relief line will open an alternative supply route for
The ADB-funded Hairatan to Mazar-e-Sharif national and international trade, remove major
railway will help Afghanistan capitalize on its bottlenecks, boost commerce, and speed the
strategic location on an important transit route flow of much-needed humanitarian assistance.
in Central Asia for goods destined for the ports
of Pakistan and the Caspian, South and East Asia, ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda visited the
and the Middle East and Europe. The railway will Hairatan site in May and spoke of the practical
also complement two major transport corridors and symbolic importance of the new rail line.
being developed under the Central Asia Regional
Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program. “The steel and concrete we see before us
also symbolizes something more significant
The railway will vastly improve transport capacity than a 75-kilometer stretch of rail,” President
at Hairatan, the gateway port for almost half Kuroda said. “It represents Afghanistan’s
of Afghanistan’s imports of key commodities emergence as a regional crossroads for trade
such as oil and fuel, wheat and flour, fertilizer, and commerce. It represents Afghanistan’s
construction materials, agricultural and off- expanding manufacturing base and growing
Regional Integration
highway equipment, and consumer goods— economy. And, most importantly, it represents
and the largest port of entry for humanitarian the aspirations of Afghanistan’s people to
relief to the country. redefine their country’s role in the region and in
Railway to
the world.”
In addition, it will connect with Mazar-e-Sharif
airport, expanded with German assistance, and A More Connected Continent
the nation’s ring road, which was rehabilitated The rail project is part of the Transport and
under ADB funding and connects the major Trade Facilitation Strategy and Action Plan 5
cities in the country. ADB expects freight under CAREC. Afghanistan has become an
volumes to increase from 4,500 tons per day active participant in CAREC, the eight-country
in 2009 to 6,000 tons per day in 2012, and partnership, supported by six multilateral
about 5 million people to benefit from the development partners, which aims to develop
project and railway operations. a seamless network of six transport corridors
connecting member countries to one another
The Aspirations of Afghanistan as well as to East and South Asia, Europe, and
As with any landlocked country, Afghanistan’s the Russian Federation.
economic prospects depend on its access to
international markets. But after 3 decades of war, By connecting these major markets, CAREC will
Afghanistan lacks the basic infrastructure with help Central Asia recapture its place as a major
which to take full advantage of its position as a crossroad for trade and commerce, and open
vital regional crossroads. up significant opportunities for Afghanistan, as
well as its neighbors.
The Hairatan border post is the gateway for
almost half of Afghanistan’s road imports. But The new line will connect Afghanistan to
the existing transport infrastructure cannot Uzbekistan’s expansive rail network. The initial
Regional Integration
Railway to
7
Government of Uzbekistan
The Context
In 2006, a comprehensive peace accord ended just over a decade of armed conflict
in Nepal. Four years after the end of hostilities, the country enjoys a somewhat
challenging peace process. Commentators in the local media express frustration
over the lack of agreement among the country’s 25 or so political parties, and warn
against the possible repercussions of a rise of “identity politics,” which reflects
continuing divisions over ethnicity, region, religion, and caste.
Kiran Pandey
N
epal is now a post-conflict country in Nepal promote inclusive development
transition. The peace accord ended the and help consolidate peace. The approach
hostilities, but there is a great deal of was developed in coordination with DFID
political uncertainty. The development and the World Bank, and is based on the
and adoption of a new constitution has been understanding that social exclusion and the
postponed by a year and the country’s numerous resulting social tensions were contributory
political parties have problems coming together causes to the conflict and continue to pose a
to form an interim national government. threat to peace, and a challenge to development
This challenging environment also provides work. The approach uses an analytical peace-
opportunities for criminal activities that worsen the building tool (a peace filter) to identify the
security situation. potential risks related to social conflict and the
opportunities for enhancing peace.
Development in a Post-Conflict Situation
Nepal still faces fundamental problems of social Using this analytical process, project designers
exclusion, unemployment, and lack of citizen and implementers can develop measures
participation in a traditionally top–down model and activities to reduce or eliminate conflict
of administration. If divisive social issues including risk and maximize opportunities for peace.
discriminatory practices are not addressed, conflict The peace tool provides checklists, in the
could flare up again. Since the peace accord, there form of questions about how the project is
have been protests by marginalized communities structured and implemented, and who benefits.
such as Madheshis and indigenous communities. For example, if a water supply project is likely
Nepal has more than a hundred ethnic groups, to benefit only one group or section of a
indigenous communities, and religious minorities. community then there may be a heightened
Typically, underprivileged members of these risk that it will produce conflict. On the other
groups have had limited access to education, health hand, a project structured to ensure all ethnic,
services, and other opportunities. While Nepal’s caste, or religious groups benefit equally may
development indicators are improving, disparities make a considerable contribution to building
between different groups are difficult to eliminate. more harmonious communities.
Fragile Situations
With the new constitution yet to be agreed, The peace-building potential of the filter
from Nepal
many imponderables add to the uncertainty. was tested in the monitoring of the Rural
Will a federal form of government be adopted as Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Sector
currently planned and if so, how will the central Development Program (3RSDP) in May 2010.
government manage relations with subnational Approaches under 3RSDP include employment
governments? What provisions will be included in generation, youth engagement, inclusion
10 the new constitution and what challenges will there policies for user committees, and opportunities
be to implement them? Will the new constitution for disadvantaged groups to gain skills and
be accepted universally? And also, is there any generate incomes. The filter showed that the
possibility of renewed conflict? All these questions special efforts made to ensure that project staff,
loom large on the minds of Nepalese people and user committees, and community organizations
need to be answered by the policy makers. included representation of all local groups
and castes had promoted citizen participation
The government will need sustained support and access to decision making. This has been
from both local and international development crucial in avoiding conflict and building
partners to ensure the delivery of basic services confidence. The analysis also highlighted that
as the situation evolves. In this challenging time ADB’s provision of a gender and social inclusion
of transition, ADB is following an approach that strategy, the application of social safeguards and
includes conflict sensitivity, flexibility, and close compensation policies, and careful identification
coordination with other development partners. of socially vulnerable beneficiary groups also
enhanced opportunities for peace.
Peace Filter
In its recently approved country partnership As this is a new analytical tool, we will also
strategy, ADB formalized a peace tool for a conflict carefully monitor, review, and modify it as
sensitive approach to ensure that projects in appropriate after testing. We emphasize that the
situation.
—Sharada Jnawali
Conflict adviser to ADB
from Nepal
12
peace filter is a flexible and living tool that Crucially, ADB’s post-conflict approach
must be able to respond to the changing context to development in Nepal is closely allied to
in Nepal and we will continue to strengthen it. government priorities and plans and is carried
The main use of the filter will be in ensuring out in close coordination with other multilateral
conflict-sensitive project design. As we have and bilateral development partners active
already shown, it also has a valuable use as a in Nepal. ADB also cooperates with Nepali
monitoring tool. civil society organizations and community
user groups.
The Way Forward
ADB and other development agencies must Given the continuing political challenges in the
support Nepal’s continued development by country, ADB’s assistance is crucial in supporting
making sure the peace dividend reaches all those basic services and building the capacity of
affected by the conflict. And really, in one way government to deliver them to Nepal’s citizens.
or another, everyone was affected by the lack ADB is increasingly focusing its assistance on
of service delivery as well as the insecurity and initiatives that strengthen governance, build
intimidation during the 11 years of conflict. capacity, improve access to essential services,
and create employment and livelihood are being developed, and jobs created. We need
opportunities. ADB’s projects promote broad- to continue to strengthen genuinely inclusive
based inclusive growth and wherever possible development, transparency, consultation and
include measures to empower women, participation, and support conflict resolution
underprivileged communities, indigenous mechanisms in villages across the country. n
people, and minority groups so that they
can take advantage of the opportunities
created. Such initiatives will continue to help Project Information
build security and resilience in the face of Rural Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Sector
uncertainties. The peace-building tool is critical Development Program
in moving this expanding program forward Financing: $100.0 million, Asian Development Fund
more flexibly and effectively. (ADB); $20.0 million, United Kingdom;
$10.0 million, Organization of the Petroleum
Things are moving forward now—services are Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund, Cofinanced Loans;
available again, children are being immunized, $500,000, Technical Assistance Special Fund (ADB)
women have access to health services, skills
M
issionary nun Rose Bernard runs the government’s HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control
14 Shalom Center, an HIV testing and in Rural Development Enclaves Project, financed
counseling center in Banz, a market by a $15 million grant from ADB.
town in the Western Highlands of
Papua New Guinea (PNG). A Public–Private Partnership Approach
to Prevention
“I started this center after seeing HIV/AIDS positive PNG’s commodities-based economy continues
women calaboosed to the home, looking after to grow amid a global downturn, but its
the family, the garden, and the pigs. While their performance belies structural weaknesses that
partners go out with their buddies, the women include a shortage of capacity in the public
had no one to talk to.” According to Bernard, many sector, especially outside Port Moresby.
women resist confiding in their husbands, fearing
abuse. “They can stay at the center where we tell ADB’s HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control grant
them not to be afraid. We tell them HIV/AIDS is a brought together the government, big business,
sickness like any other and can be treated. We give church groups, and NGOs to respond to the
them hope that they can still lead normal lives.” particular cultural contexts of PNG. Businesses
drive the project; provincial health authorities
Faith-based centers, like Bernard’s, are part develop their capacity to deliver prevention
of coalition of stakeholders that are tackling and treatment services; and church groups
the spread of HIV and AIDS in PNG, under the and NGOs work with communities at a
grassroots level and address people’s real A major part of the project has been to improve
motivations and constraints. the rural health clinics that provide HIV testing,
counseling, and treatment—and other primary
The project focuses on preventing the spread of health care services.
HIV and AIDS in PNG’s economic heartland, the
Highlands region, where 40% of the population In Western Highlands, for example, the enclave
lives and which is the source for most mineral, operator is W.R. Carpenter, a tea and coffee
petroleum, and agricultural exports. Companies plantation company. Since the project got under
here have a strong incentive to be proactive way in 2007, W.R. Carpenter has renovated and
in the project: they need to protect their labor refurbished 22 health clinics or aid posts (as of
forces, which include large numbers of mobile 31 August 2010). The company also provides
men with disposable income, a high-risk group training for the staff in these facilities and
for HIV infection. organizes awareness workshops for its workers
16
supported clinics.
Measures of Success
at people as sexual beings and, by helping men Some believe the workshops are already changing
better understand their needs and those of their behavior. “We have follow-up sessions after the
partners, we make it easier for them to change workshops and people tell us that, whereas they
their behavior.” were careless in their sexual behavior before, they
are more careful now,” said Betty Kaime, who runs
The PSI behavior change program is supported by the AIDS program for W.R. Carpenter. “People say
AusAID and NZAID, as well as the government and they are using condoms and are reducing their
ADB. The bilateral agencies have each contributed number of sexual partners.”
$3.5 million in grants.
Since late 2009, the government significantly
So far, the project has conducted over 40 improved distribution of its free condoms. As a
workshops for 1,000 men, including workforce result of the greater availability of condoms as well
enclave and community leaders, on topics as more voluntary testing and counseling services,
ranging from threats to fertility, from STIs to good the number of HIV-positive cases in the W.R.
communication between partners. More recently, Carpenter districts rose by only 5 to 22 in 2009.
PSI started workshops for women, a proposal “We think HIV is being contained,” said Kaime.
18
S
everal times a week, Mary Puke travels from Solomon Islands is located just east of Papua New
Visale in West Guadalcanal to the Central Guinea, and is the third-largest archipelago in the
Market in Honiara, the capital of Solomon South Pacific. It comprises almost 1,000 islands,
Islands. Before the road and bridge network only about one-third of which are inhabited.
was rehabilitated, the 80-kilometer round trip The islands cover a sea area of more than 1.35
used to take about 6 hours. Now, after ADB’s Post- million square kilometers and are mostly rugged
Conflict Emergency Rehabilitation Project (PCERP) mountains and coral atolls.
began in 2002 to rehabilitate damaged roads and
bridges in east and west Guadalcanal, and on the Worst Conditions
island of Malaita, the same trip takes only 2 hours. Major infrastructure linking provincial and
market centers to communities in east and west
“Better roads and bridges mean I can get my Guadalcanal and on the island of Malaita were
Sally R. Shute-Tremblath
mangoes to market more quickly and they are destroyed during ethnic tensions in 1999–2000.
fresher when they get there,” said Puke. Bridges were bombed and roads were severely
Same Track
On The
19
20
Same Track
captures the spirit of the project, as Mike Qaqara,
On The
deputy project manager of PCERP, explained. “The
Tanavasa Bridge was blown up during the conflict
and its loss meant people from the west could
not easily travel to Honiara to go to the market, or 21
access other essential services in town.”
Impressive Results
“The Solomon Islands government is very
impressed with the results of PCERP,” said Moses
Virivolomo, PCERP coordinator and undersecretary
in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development.
“We asked ADB to do the project for us because
Sally R. Shute-Tremblath
While good roads have largely improved the sector to try and promote labor-based methods
lives of Solomon Islanders, Virivolomo pointed of road maintenance, which is one of the most
out they have caused a few unexpected important innovations of the project.”
problems. “When the roads were repaired
suddenly people drove much faster. There SIRIP provides opportunities for rural
was an increase in accidents, so right now the communities to participate in labor-based road
government is looking into rolling out a public maintenance, which involves community groups
awareness campaign about the dangers of using simple tools rather than large machines to
speeding, and establishing pedestrian crossings do road maintenance such as pothole filling or
and speed control signs. That is one of the big vegetation clearing.
lessons we learned from PCERP.”
Virivolomo said the government is very aware of
Both NZAID and RAMSI maintain that PCERP the problem of dispossessed, unemployed youth
was a very good project for its time. RAMSI’s in the country and in the region. The government
Paul Kelly said, “PCERP was a very tangible plans to engage youth, school dropouts, and
and powerful project for the community and women’s groups, and provide opportunities for
donors to see in a post-conflict environment.” them to work in road maintenance close to home.
The cofinanciers say they learned a lot about He added, “Engineers estimate that maintenance
transport infrastructure during the course of the may extend the life of a road in Solomon Islands
project, because this is not a traditional niche by 15 to 20 years, which suggests that road
for them in Solomon Islands. Both agree ADB’s maintenance is a crucial, cost effective investment
expertise in this area was a key factor in their for the future. We just need to spread the word.”
from Solomon Islands
Same Track
On The
23
Sally R. Shute-Tremblath
W
hen Packeer Mohamed Khadeeja
contemplated returning for her eighth
tour of duty as a domestic worker
in Qatar, a chance discussion with
a neighbor about cheap loans and skills training
24 provided by a microcredit project changed her life.
Muttiappa Thangamah, a Muslim housewife project runs in tandem with the North East
from Sri Lanka
from Naduthivu village in Trincomalee, who rears Community Restoration and Development
poultry in her backyard to supplement the family Project II, which is continuing the government’s
income. The microcredit scheme helped her to rehabilitation program in conflict-affected areas
secure a loan for her husband, a prawn fisherman, of the northern and eastern provinces. The ADB-
who purchased nets and other necessities from supported Tsunami-Affected Areas Rebuilding
the loan. Project is also restoring basic social infrastructure,
26 community and public services, and livelihoods to
Like many in the east, Thangamah and her areas devastated by the tsunami.
husband were displaced, first by fighting
between government troops and Tamil militants “The project has led to social change, uplifted the
seeking a separate homeland for their minority lifestyles of the villagers, and empowered women,’’
Tamil community, and then by the tsunami. More NECCDEP Project Director S.M. Croos said.
than 60,000 people died in the conflict, while “For instance, one woman’s earnings soared
nearly 30,000 lives were lost in the tsunami that to 30,000 rupees (Rs) (almost $300) from
lashed the shores of Sri Lanka and many parts of Rs13,000 a month and she was able to buy a
Asia on Boxing Day, 26 December 2004. motorcycle for her brother to go to work.”
“We lost our house in the tsunami when my Microcredit has made the biggest transformation
husband was unable to fish in the lagoon due in the lives of these coastal communities, with
to the fighting. Now that the war is over, we are Rs251.3 million ($2.2 million) in loans distributed
very relieved. The microcredit program since 2005 to help people, particularly women
has helped us to lift ourselves from poverty who head households, improve their livelihoods.
and earn a decent living,” Thangamah said, The project—set for completion in November
sprinkling feed on the ground as the chickens 2010—has also helped protect resources such as
gather in her backyard. mangroves and fisheries, and has added to natural
defenses against coastal erosion. Improvements overwhelmed by his mother’s determination for
to rural roads, markets, production centers, him to be first person in Kantankudy village to go
and training facilities under the project have to medical school.
benefited more than 40,000 families in the east.
The NECCDEP, like other projects in Sri Lanka, has
S.V. Skandarajah, a livelihoods and enterprises been structured to cater to the large number of
development officer at the NECCDEP office female-headed households in the east. Batticaloa
in Trincomalee, said there are 63 WRDSs in has the largest number of such households in
Trincomalee alone, in which women manage the region: 25,272 out of 153,074 families. There
microcredit programs and skills training. are 15,648 widows, of whom 2,939 are war
Loan repayments are swift and made without widows. The rest have either separated from their
default, unlike big borrowers at commercial husbands, or their husbands disappeared during
banks. “There is no doubt that the program has the conflict or are disabled and unable to work.
changed their lives forever and provided the
finance they need without any fuss,” he said. Many women in these communities were married
and widowed at a young age. Jeyaratnam
New Beginnings Imbarani, 41, married at 17 and lost her husband
The Valachenai Fisheries harbor in Batticaloa 2 years later when he was shot dead on the
reopened in September 2010, after way to work at a hotel. She then learned to sew
refurbishment with ADB assistance. Like most and borrowed from the WRDS to set herself up
Lifting communities out of poverty has also “The east will soon buzz with activity and return
helped villagers provide their children with to its former glory as a key center of trade and
a decent education and even send them to commerce in Sri Lanka, after the advent of peace
university. Take Adam Bawa Kasara, 44, whose and the uplifting communities here,” said Croos. n
son is a second-year medical student at Rajarata
University in Anuradhapura.
coordinated assistance.
28
The Context
In remote Pacific islands, unpredictable aid and poor donor–government
coordination can significantly reduce the effectiveness of development
assistance. Under its Strategy 2020, ADB has committed to sustain commitments
for longer and align its development assistance with other funding agencies at
both strategic and project levels. In close coordination with the World Bank,
ADB has established offices in Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and most recently,
Vanuatu. These offices will act as a focus for closer alignment with government
priorities, better coordination with partners, and more effective ADB assistance.
A
DB reaffirmed its commitment to Since 2004, ADB has significantly expanded its
working alongside its development operations and presence in the Pacific region,
partners to boost aid effectiveness in establishing offices in the Fiji Islands, Papua New
small, vulnerable states with the opening Guinea, Timor-Leste, and in Australia (Sydney).
of a joint liaison office with the World Bank Group ADB also works with the World Bank in Samoa,
in Vanuatu. Solomon Islands, Tonga, and now in Vanuatu.
The partnerships have allowed ADB to align its
Vanuatu Finance Minister and ADB Governor programs with those of developing member
Sela Molisa; ADB Vice-President C. Lawrence countries and development partners in the region,
Greenwood, Jr.; and World Bank Group where it now has a field presence in 7 of the 14
Vice- President for the East Asia Pacific Region Pacific developing member countries.
James Adams were on hand to inaugurate the
ADB–World Bank Joint Vanuatu Liaison Office in The liaison office in Vanuatu will support aid
Port Vila on 5 August 2010. effectiveness and coordination, according to
Nancy Wells, ADB’s development coordinator.
“By establishing the office, ADB aims to make Based in Port Vila, Wells is responsible for
a more direct and stronger contribution to supporting the Government of Vanuatu in
Vanuatu’s development,” Greenwood said at the implementing its national development strategy
ceremony. “Building on the impressive reform through activities outlined in its country
record and economic performance of the partnership strategy with ADB.
Government of Vanuatu in the past few years, we
look forward to continue working closely with the Wells saw many advantages to ADB’s shared
government and other stakeholders to sustain the presence with the World Bank. “The deepening
achievements and progress made.” relationship between the two banks will send an
important message to the Vanuatu government the shared premises will help facilitate this
that we do not want to duplicate our programs engagement. We look forward to seeing both
Fragile Situations
and genuinely want to jointly work to contribute banks strengthen and broaden their programs in
to the development of Vanuatu,” she said. Wells, a Vanuatu in the coming years.”
from Vanuatu
and Solomon Islands to discuss the government will reduce barriers to market access, and will
program of reforms. “It was an opportunity for promote the growth of rural production. Financed
ADB, the World Bank Group, and other donors by ADB and the European Commission, the main
to establish a dialogue with the government to beneficiaries of this project will be people in the
coordinate budget support assistance during the poorest, most remote areas of the islands.
global economic crisis,” said Uluinaceva.
The World Bank’s Bowles said broad-based
ADB provides ongoing assistance to the economic growth, the forging of international
Government of Solomon Islands in the areas of partnerships that provide a more predictable and
company and business law reform, as part of ADB’s steady source of revenue, and stronger public
Private Sector Development Initiative, established administration would make Solomon Islands less
in 2006 with funding from the Government of vulnerable to conflict.
Australia. Transport infrastructure is also a major
focus of ADB’s work. The National Transport Plan, Joint liaison offices have provided open
which ADB helped develop, guides the government forums for the exchange of views such as
on restoring infrastructure; improving maintenance; Bowles’, and allowed ADB to strengthen
increasing safety, quality, and reliability; and coordination with other donors and relationships
promoting private sector participation. with governments. With a better practical
understanding of development contexts in the
Other assistance from the Domestic Maritime Pacific, and with improved donor coordination,
Support Project will create more frequent and ADB is able to deliver more targeted, more
Fragile Situations
32
Sally Shute-Tremblath
• From left: Ferid Belhaj, country director of the Pacific Department at the World Bank; Sela Molisa, Vanuatu finance
minister; Jim Adams, World Bank vice-president; Odo Tevi, Vanuatu Reserve Bank governor; Nancy Wells, ADB
development coordinator of the Vanuatu liaison office; C. Lawrence Greenwood Jr., ADB vice-president; Robert
Whithol, director general of ADB’s Pacific Department; Eugenue Zhukov, regional director of the Pacific Liaison
and Coordination Office at the opening celebration of the ADB–World Bank joint field office in Vanuatu.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) works with a number of developing member countries facing
fragile or conflict-affected situations—circumstances that complicate economic development, and
might include domestic or international conflict, ethnic tensions, vulnerability to natural disasters,
or a confluence of these factors.
Extra care is required in handling fragile situations. ADB seeks innovative means to strengthen
its engagement by sustaining commitments for longer periods; aligning development assistance
with other funding agencies; and pursuing deeper, more flexible, and longer engagement in
capacity and institutional development. These efforts target ADB support toward building resilience
in some of Asia’s most challenging development scenarios.
ADB’s vision is an Asia and Pacific region free of poverty. Its mission is to help its developing
member countries substantially reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of their people.
Despite the region’s many successes, it remains home to two-thirds of the world’s poor: 1.8 billion
people who live on less than $2 a day, with 903 million struggling on less than $1.25 a day. ADB is
committed to reducing poverty through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable
growth, and regional integration.
Based in Manila, ADB is owned by 67 members, including 48 from the region. Its main
instruments for helping its developing member countries are policy dialogue, loans, equity
investments, guarantees, grants, and technical assistance.